Movie Reviews

A must buy for all

Taylan Benker | Istanbul, Turkey | 10/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Goddamn! This was my reaction when i realized that my all time favorite band had decided to bury themselves. Due to my very busy workload, i had not checked the metal scene for updates for some time. And when i did, they had already played their last gig two months ago. I am not sure if i could afford a nine hours flight trip to Oulu, if had the chance to know it beforehand. Finding a ticket would be an issue too. So this last concert DVD is a treasure for any one in my situation.

Any one who do not know Sentenced i will give a brief idea at the end.

MY REVIEWI will not review the content or playlist one by one as they can be found under item description.

Concert DVD

Songs of the playlist:

The songs they included are the ones which any Sentenced fan had needed to rewind and listen to once again when they bought those album. So; no lame songs. But some of their characteristic songs that you had used to love a lot are missing. The main reason of this is the concept of the concept; "funeral of the band". all the songs included are related to suicide, death and self destruction. Any love related ones are left out intentionally. The playlist sequence is not in chronological order but in thematic order.

Visual qualityThe DVD has no different angle options. On the other hand, they had used to much camera to shoot from different angles that you can see the different views of the stage and musician throughout the concert more that two ours. Unfortunately, for the ones who like to watch the guitarist (Mika) while he is soloing, it may be a disappointment. Because, Mika was hiding in the shadows almost all the time and the attempts to shoot his solos did fail to reveal much.

In the first few songs the stage was dimly lit and you could not see thing so clearly. As the lighting changes, you will have much clear and bright vision. Compared to the concerts of the band of similar genre, stage lighting was very good. DVD also grabs that successfully.

Visual and musical qualityI must accept that the sound mixed was not the best I had watched but still can be considered good. The band was particularly successfully to play the songs close to the studio recordings. They had made alterations only in a few songs. The singer (Ville) was not detuned as stated by one of the reviewers. Instead, he sang the songs in slightly different emphasis and yes he was out of beat a few times. The old singer (Tanelli), sang the songs at it were. Due to his roaring style, this may be awkward for the ones not into it. Despite over a decade long gap, he did well.

Concert announcementsThe concert was in Oulu, Finland and in front of Finnish audience. Naturally, Ville was talking and announcing the songs in Finnish. There are English subtitles in both DVDs whenever a non English Language was used. Scandinavian metal had never been on the commercial side as so called popular bands as Bon Jovi and Metallica that, using English as proposed by Henry J., would be a very indecent and snobbish act. IMHO, it is OK as it is.

OverallI may be biased here as I love Sentenced a lot. They get sentimental and so did I. When it finished, I felt like as if one of my kin had died. Anyway it was a good concert.

EXTRAS DVDThinking that you will not have access to any other Senteced material after all, you want more from this DVD. On the other hand, this DVD has almost everything in it.

Funeral Procession SectionThe "Funeral Procession" includes video footage of promotional photo shooting sessions, videoclip shooting sessions and signings. Also there is a great and complete coverage of all the concerts they had performed in the last six months which last about an hour, including their tour bus life.

Video clips sectionThis section has seven TV videoclips. Which actually all that the band had ever been created. Except the earliest two, rests are hi-res.

Photo galleryHundreds of photos arranged as animated videoclip. Almost all of the Funeral album was played as background music. Last about 45 minutes.

InterviewsAbout 40 minutes long interview with Sami (rhythm guitarist) and Ville, just before they go on to stage for their last show. Nice insider information. Also cozy and intimate.

About 15 minutes long interview with Tanelli (former singer). It did not meant much to me but it is good to have.

OVERALL This two DVD set is one of the most complete set I have seen. About 310 minutes of playing time. It nailed me to our TV couch the whole weekend. Very good price for what you get. Please note that I bought it for 17 euros in Germany which higher than here at Amazon.

SENTENCED REVIEW

I want to make a very brief introduction to Sentenced for those who are not familiar with the band.

The band started their music career in a small town of Finland as a Scandinavian Death Metal band. Their earliest works had never been commercially available. Only a few very lucky Finnish fans still posses the copies o these two tapes.

The band kept their aggressive death metal sound until they release the album named Amok, in which they dramatically get into melodic metal. After this album they splitted their way with the lead singer, Tanelli Jarva who had a very characteristic style of roaring vocal. In their next album, "Down" they recruited Ville Laihiala who has a softer voice and melodic vocal style, hich complement the bands future musical approach. The band get softer and more melodic in every album they created after this. Although the lyrics were always about death, suicide or suffering pain since the beginning the latest works had given the feel more with the new musical style.

Sentenced was the only band that created this kind of music. Although the style classified as melancholic melodic metal, there is no other band that falls in that genre. I do not think that I can explain it. Think of a very upbeat and heavy rhythm but you still want to cry when you here it. I hope this gives a bit idea.

Either you are into Scandinavian Metal or not Sentenced is a band to be listened. So do your self a favor and try a few of their albums. My recommendations are, Amok, Down and Frozen to start with. Their middle ages and a bit of both eras.

RIP my all friendsSENTENCED1989-2005

"

Sentenced, the end of a life well-lived

J. Rogers | Snellville, Georgia. | 05/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Here we are, now lay the burden downWe're coming to the end of our roadSorrowful yet glorious somehowTo be humming this one last ode..."

"Buried Alive" is the 'end of the road' for Sentenced, though not their fans. I love this band more and more everyday as I listen to their catalogue while driving, running errands, exercising, etc. I made the mistake of getting into this band after their collective death. I wish now I had been a fan before the end came, as I would have paid any cost to travel to Finland to say goodbye. Describing myself as elated upon finding out about this dvd is an understatement, simply due to the fact that it more than delivers! I have watched this entire 'film' about 13 times now from start to finish. It is incredibly well made and finalizes their departure from this world. I will admit, I didn't know what to expect from "BA", but they went out in style. The setlist could not have been more perfect , nor fitting. No other band is capable of committing suicide so stylishly or impecably. I wish they were still alive releasing albums, but atleast Ville is rockin' with Poisonblack (their forthcoming album "A Dead, Heavy Day" will be his swan song as he leaving the industry to be a father, or so numerous reports say), Sami Lopakka recently resurfaced with KYPCK (Kursk in English), Vesa Ranta is a photographer and graphic artist for many bands in Europe, Sami K has two or three bands, though sadly, Mikka, imho the most talented member of Sentenced, has disappeared all together. To end my review, I will simply say this..."So farewell my love, take all of myself and kill this love forsakenand please send me no need of thee""